We are in conversation with Christopher Charles Doyle, the bestselling author of ‘The Mahabharata Secret’ where he tells us that the impetus for writing a full length novel came when he first created a fantasy world for my daughter. Enjoy this wonderful interview filled with reality and with a pinch of fantasy, mythology, history
Let’s talk
Team WordBite (TWB):Tell us something about you which very few people know of.
Christopher Charles Doyle (CCD): I have dreamed of being a published author since I was ten years old. My foray into writing, while not planned the way it happened, is not an accident but the realization of a childhood dream.
TWB: “….Brought up as a boy on a steady diet of books ranging from classical literature to science fiction and fantasy to poetry and plays…” This is what your website says about you. So tell us your favorite books and authors right from that boyhood to present and what was their role in shaping you as a person you are at present?
CCD: I’ve always loved classical literature – Shakespeare, Thomas Hardy, Sir Walter Scott, Dickens, George Bernard Shaw – were much loved companions right from my boyhood days. I also read a lot of science fiction and fantasy – authors like Isaac Azimov, Philip Dick, Robert Heinlein, HG Wells, Jules Verne, along with JRR Tolkein, Robert Jordan and Terry Brooks also influenced my thinking. And, who can forget Arthur Conan Doyle, who is an old favourite. I think I derived my curiosity about the world around me, my deep fascination with science and an outlook that helped me imagine innumerable possibilities from these writers.
TWB:V.S Naipaul, during a literary festival, had said that a writer, when writing, is a tormented soul. Your views on this comment.
CCD: I enjoy my writing. It could be, perhaps, because I write fiction that entertains rather than fiction that is known for its literary content. I am happiest when I am writing and often get drawn into the world I am creating, into the lives of my characters and the situations they find themselves in. I feel I am more tormented once I have finished a book, which is when I take a break to get over the book that has been completed and start thinking about the next one.
TWB: Why should one read your book? Anything that you want to tell a potential reader that the blurb of “The Mahabharata Secret” doesn’t tell him?
CCD: There have been various interpretations of the Mahabharata – based on spirituality, philosophy, leadership and even management. But no one, to the best of my knowledge, has used science to interpret the Mahabharata and explain events and myths in the epic using hard scientific facts. Both my books – The Mahabharata Secret and The Mahabharata Quest: The Alexander Secret – look at the Mahabharata through the eyes of science. If you, as a reader, ever asked yourself: ‘could the Mahabharata be based on a true story?’ you should read my books. They raise the possibility that many things that are described in the Mahabharata may not be just myths or stories, but can be explained by science.
Moreover, there are also mysteries or unexplained gaps even in recorded history. This is most obvious in the case of Asoka the Great, who features in The Mahabharata Secret, and Alexander the Great, who features in my second book – The Mahabharata Quest: The Alexander Secret. There are legends and myths surrounding both these great men who lived 2300 years ago. My books explore some of these mysteries and raise the question – what if there was a connection between them and The Mahabharata? A connection that can be explained through science?
TWB:Any issue regarding Indian publishing or readership which you strongly feel about and why?
CCD: Not really. I think Indian publishing and readership is pretty much the same as it is anywhere else.
TWB:Why did you choose to write something on this particular genre?
CCD: The impetus for writing a full length novel came when I first created a fantasy world for my daughter (who was 3 years old at that time) and I began spinning tales of adventure to narrate to her every night at bedtime. Those tales spawned my first ever fantasy novel, which never got published. Once my daughter outgrew those fantasy tales, I started a search, in 2006, to write a story that is set in modern India but inextricably linked to India’s historical and mythological past, since my daughter has a keen interest in history and mythology. It is that search that led to the Mahabharata Secret being written between 2006 and 2008. Part of the reason I chose this genre, therefore, is because my daughter is keenly interested in history and mythology and The Mahabharata Secret was written for her to start with. But when I was researching and I came across the legend about Asoka the Great, and I was able to create a link between Asoka and the Mahabharata, it provided me with the opportunity to bring science into a thriller that combined mythology and history in a modern setting. Through The Mahabharata Secret and The Mahabharata Quest: The Alexander Secret, I have tried to interpret our mythological heritage through the eyes of science. I have tried to provide a fresh perspective to a historical age which we all associate with bows, arrows, horses, elephants and chariots, not with cutting edge technology.
TWB:Tell us something about you as a musician
CCD: I love all kinds of music, from jazz to pop to classic rock. As a musician, I play classic rock with my band called Mid Life Crisis.
TWB: Who was your inspiration in this writing journey?
CCD: All the authors I have mentioned earlier.
TWB: Amidst all those positive replies and fan mails all throughout the days when your book was being appreciated, was there any bit of advice that you got from anyone, for your work, which you have emulated thereafter?
CCD: There were fans who wrote in with advice on improving my book, which I really appreciated. Some of them even re-wrote some of the scenes to demonstrate how they thought the scenes could be improved. Many of these suggestions were really good and I used them for my new book.
TWB: Can you give us a little sneak peak of your upcoming books? What are you been working on?
CCD: My new book – The Mahabharata Quest: The Alexander Secret – has just been released. This is the first book in a series. I have been working on this for a little over a year now. Just as The Mahabharata Secret brought together mythology, science and history (in the form of Asoka the Great and a secret connecting Asoka with the Mahabharata), my new book brings together a myth from the Mahabharata, science and history in the form of Alexander the Great and a secret connecting Alexander to the Mahabharata. Like the first book, the second one is also a thriller with the action taking place in our times. The other books in the series will take the story forward with more revelations about history and mythology through a scientific perspective, in a thriller format.
TWB:When was the last time you did something for the first time? And what was it?
CCD: I am a Gemini and am constantly looking for new things to do.
Rapid Fire
TWB: Your favorite Book(s):
CCD: Lord of the Rings
TWB: Describe yourself in three words:
CCD: An incorrigible optimist
TWB: Thank you Christopherfor this interview, we wish you a great life ahead.
Inspiring words… Thank you for your first book sir. Eagerly awaiting the second one.
Thank you, Madhu. Just a few months more to go. In the meanwhile, I hope you are enjoying the tale that is unfolding in The Mahabharata Quest: A Secret Revealed, the mini-sequel available through The Quest Club.
eagerly waiting for the third book in the series sir…
Thank you, Bikramjit.
Very inspiring words Sir… Thank you so much Sir.. Can’t wait for the next book Sir.. your mini-sequels are awesome Sir
Thank you, and I am glad you are enjoying the mini-sequel.
waiting for my copy of The Mahabharata Quest: A Secret Revealed….. Am not a book worm but I love what U wrote…..
Thank you and I am glad you enjoyed my book.
Hello Sir,
I have read all your work so far and have pre ordered your next book. Hope I will get a signed copy of “The secret of the Druids”.
I have never been fan of history but after reading your work, am totally into exploring past world. I also liked the choice of words that you do in your books.
Just wow!!! Fascinating at every page, chilling, nail biting, hair raising, goosebumping, eyes popping stuff..keep up your stuff.
I am at a loss for words – thank you so much for the compliments!
hello,
I have read all your books. And have really liked all of them . I cannot choose which one is the best, all were at par. Thank you for giving us such great stories and keep writing so that we can enjoy more of your great story telling .
Priya, thank you for your kind words. I am glad you enjoyed reading my books. It is appreciation like yours that keeps me motivated to strive to write stories that you can enjoy.
Hi Sir,
I recently came to know about you and your fascinating books. So, can you please tell me from which book should I start? And are these books sequels of prequels of each other?
Thanks
And sir, if possible, can you please give me your email ID?
My email id is contact@christophercdoyle.com. I look forward to hearing from you!
Ipsa, The Mahabharata Secret was my debut novel but it is not part of any series. The Alexander Secret was my second novel and was also Book 1 of The Mahabharata Quest series. The Secret of the Druids is my third novel and Book 2 of The Mahabharata Quest series and a sequel to The Alexander Secret. In between there is a mini-sequel to The Alexander Secret, which is available to read for free at The Quest Club on this website. You can start either with The Mahabharata Secret or The Alexander Secret. The choice is yours. I hope this helps.
When is the 3rd book in your triology going to get released?
The sequel to The Secret of the Druids will be released end 2017/early 2018.
Sir i am very much inspired by your words and I also am grateful to you for coming at our school TGES jamnagar-maneknagar and talk with us live and I loved that time that you spent with us and I will always remember that day and I wish you may come to our school again
Thank you, Maulik, it was a pleasure interacting with all of you at Jamnagar and I would love to come back to your school sometime. Hopefully, I will. I hope you have also joined The Quest Club and are enjoying the information I share at the club. All the best!
Sir, I already read all you books that all are amazing. Now still waiting for new upcoming book. please tell when it going to get release.
Amit, I am still working on the research for the next one in The Mahabharata Quest series and expect it to release in 2018. But there will be a new release later this year – a Young Adults fantasy series based on Indian mythology begins in 2017. Watch out for that one!
Each of the sequences are dynamic. Whenever I get into it, frankly speaking, I simply unintentionally skip whatever the work I have been given to do… Awaiting for a dashing secret to be revealed again. To me You are an Indian Dan Brown.
All d sequences are so dynamic that whenever I get into your book. I unintentionally skip whatever has been given me to do. Awaiting for your next hidden secret to get revealed. You mean to me the Dan Brown of Asia.
Wow, great compliments – thank you so much! I am really delighted that you have enjoyed reading my books!
Enjoyed reading The Mahabharata Quest – The Alexander Secret, absolutely unputdownable, and a treasure trove for someone who is an obsessive fan of Indian and Greek mythology! Thank you for the book. I was not able to get my hands on The Secret Revealed in hard copy, and despaired how I would read it. That is when I read your blurb about The Quest Club…..and here I am. Will read this one here online, and go back to my hard copy version of The Secret of the Druids. Amazing and so inspirational. I hope one day to jump on the writing bandwagon myself and craft books that provide readers with endless hours of happiness, just as you have done. A fan for life, Christopher C. Doyle, take a bow!
Best,
Anupama
Anupama, thank you for your kind words about The Alexander Secret – I am delighted that you enjoyed reading it so much! I hope you enjoy reading The Secret of the Druids as well. It is words like yours that really motivate me to continue to research and write stories that I hope you will continue to enjoy. All the best with your writing plans!
I was really fascinated by your research
And your knowledge about your topic
(As I was one of the spectator in KDAV ON 23/4/17 ) . I had a question which I couldn’t ask so here it is ‘what are the possibilities according to you that we are living in a virtual world ?’ (the virtual world is the kind of simulation created by our ancestors and everything we see is virtual) . It is kind of hard to believe but give it a try and think about it .
To know more about this you could search on YouTube ( must do ) . This theory is supported by Elon musk too .
So please give it a shot
(7016100266)
You know, Prateek, this is something that I have been researching for some time now. You never know, I may just write about it!
Please write one . It will definitely be a bestseller
Thank you for the confidence.
Sir I am inspired by your seminar today at Reliance Greens an learnt a lot from the same……..your stories are amazing and I love them.
Thank you, Hammesh, glad you enjoyed the session. I hope you have joined The Quest Club!
Hi sir when u will release the next series of mahabharata quest. I think most of them are waiting to know the remaining answers raised in the secret of druids .please release it soon sir.
The next book in The Mahabharata Quest series will release in 2019.
Hello Sir,
I have recently finished The Mahabharata Secret. I wanted to ask the concept of weapons mentioned in book is real? If so where are those powerful weapons now? Are those with Indian Ministry Or kept outside India?
If you are referring to the weapons that Bhim Singh shows Imran Kidwai, those are all fictional.